Lachit Day: Lachit was the general of the Ahom kingdom. In the battle of Saraighat in 1671, he had shown excellent understanding. An attempt by the Mughal forces led by Ram Singh I to recapture Kamrup district was thwarted.
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Lachit Barphukan is very important in the history of Assam. He is remembered for his bravery and efficient leadership ability. Lachit was the commander of the Ahom kingdom. In the battle of Saraighat in 1671, he had shown excellent understanding. An attempt by the Mughal forces led by Ram Singh I to recapture Kamrup district was thwarted. It was the brave and mighty Lachit Barphukan who shook the Mughal Empire.
Lachit Borphukan was also called Shivaji of Northeast because he had failed the strategy of Mughals like Shivaji and was forced to return. After the Mughals captured Guwahati, he showed them the way out just like Shivaji.
24 November 2022 is the 400th birth anniversary of Assamese warrior Lachit Borphukan. The birth anniversary of the hero who challenged Mughal expansionism in the 16th century is celebrated as ‘Lachit Diwas’ in Assam.
The Ahom dynasty was established in the 13th century.
The Ahom dynasty was established in Assam in the 13th century. Ahom warriors led by Sukhpa defeated the local Nagas and captured Assam. Ruled Assam for the next 600 years. The name Assam itself was derived from the name of the Ahom dynasty. Lachit Borphukan, belonging to this, was born on 24 November 1622 in the Ahom kingdom in Assam. His father’s name was Momai Tamuli Borbarua who was the Governor of Upper Assam and Commander-in-Chief of the Ahom Army. His mother’s name was Kunti Moran. He was the youngest of his siblings. After completing studies in military strategy, he was appointed as Saldhara Barua of the Ahom king. Later, he was also made the Commander-in-Chief of the Army in the Ahom Kingdom.
fought against Aurangzeb
Mughal emperor Aurangzeb sent Rajput general Ram Singh to lead the campaign against Assam. In 1669, Ram Singh reached Assam with more than 18,000 soldiers and the war began, but he could not stand the bravery of the Assamese warrior Lachit Borphukan. Ram Singh tried again and killed 10,000 Ahom soldiers. This caused a huge blow to the Ahom soldiers. The soldiers started feeling discouraged. While there, Lachit fell ill.
Ram Singh started making a strategy to take advantage of such a situation. As a result, he fought with the marines on the Brahmaputra river in Saraighat and succeeded in breaking the security cordon. Despite his illness, Lachit boarded a boat and joined the battle. Seeing the bravery of Lachit, his soldiers got inspiration. The soldiers fought with full spirit and defeated Ram Singh. As a result, Ram Singh had to leave Assam on 5 April 1671.
That’s why maternal uncle was beheaded
Its story is related to the war with the Mughals. It is said that Lachit made a strategy to build a wall around the Ahom kingdom to stop the Mughal army. Soldiers were ordered to build the wall overnight. He gave the responsibility of this to his maternal uncle. Despite being sick, when he reached the place, he saw that the construction of the wall was not completed. The soldiers are full of frustration and despair. The soldiers had already assumed that they would not be able to build the wall before morning.
Seeing such situation, Lachit got angry on his maternal uncle because he could not even increase the enthusiasm of the soldiers and cut his maternal uncle’s throat. After this incident, he filled so much enthusiasm among the soldiers that the wall was erected before sunrise. As a commander, he instilled so much enthusiasm in the soldiers that the war was won.
,Inputs: Suraj Deb, Sanjay Prasad Shah,
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